Page 62 S1 Daily Mail, Saturday, March 7, 2020

Escape:

H
ere’s the easy bit. The advice is against ‘all
but essential’ travel to mainland China, parts
of South Korea and ten towns in northern
Italy, due to the coronavirus, while some
­countries, such as Israel, have started to
impose their own travel bans.
But what about a holiday in other parts of Italy or if you’re
booked on a cruise? Or about to take a long-haul flight? What
are the risks for worldwide travel? And is your travel insurance
primed for the unexpected?
Here, Escape comes up with the answers . . . 

q safe
Where is
to go? by Tom
MAKE the Foreign & Common-
wealth Office (FCO) travel advice
Chesshyre
website your first port of call as it is
regularly updated. Go to gov.uk & Kate Leahy

Indulgent
At your leisure: Deep in the Angus countryside, Castleton House is an ideal place to unwind and search for the country you are
­considering visiting or check the
coronavirus section at gov.uk. holiday being ­ cancelled is on
None of Italy’s ski resorts is off ­medical grounds, but this is done
by Graham limits at the moment.
Also check the National Travel
on a case-by-case basis and will
require a letter from your GP.

Grant Health Network & Centre ­website,

travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries.
q ­pWhat ABOUT our

T
q can ackage holiday?

retreat to
if flights are axed
HERE’s something i get a refund? TOUR operators, namely those
about Castleton House that are ABTA or ATOL members,
that reminds you of an FLIGHTS to affected areas are will offer an alternative holiday if
being cancelled based on FCO yours is cancelled due to FCO
Agatha Christie novel. It advice and some are solely due to a advice, but if it is of significant
has more than its fair downturn in ­bookings. ­difference to your original booking
share of grand rooms where If you booked directly with an you are under no obligation to

house of
you can imagine Hercule ­airline, you are ­eligible for a refund accept it. In these cases, a full
or to rebook free of charge refund will be offered.
Poirot pacing as he unravels (although you may still have to pay A spokesperson for TUI says: ‘In
the latest mystery. any fare ­difference incurred). the event that we’re unable to oper-
And it’s tucked away in a quiet If you booked through a third ate a holiday due to changes in
corner of the Angus countryside not party, i.e. a travel agent, you will travel restrictions, we will ­ contact
far from Glamis Castle, the childhood need to contact customers directly
home of the Queen Mother – which them to find out to discuss their
also has a suitably bloody history. your options. options, including

grandeur
But there wasn’t the remotest sense Hotel cancella- an amendment or
of foreboding when we pulled up at tions owing to the full refund.’
the door of this imposing Edwardian virus are mainly If your trip isn’t
mansion and former hotel on a crisp centred around i m m i n e n t , i t’ s
winter afternoon. mainland China, unlikely it will be
Set in the glorious Strathmore coun- Hong Kong, Macau cancelled yet,
tryside between Angus and Perth- and Taiwan with so speak to your
shire, Castleton House is about an groups, such as tour operator
hour and a half from Glasgow by car, Fo u r S e a s o n s , to check.

q Should
and slightly less from Edinburgh. Hilton and Marri-
We were shown round by owners ott wavering can-
Paul Cousins and his wife Rayne, cellation or change
who were married in the eight- before his death; Barrie is buried of booking fees. I hold

q
acre grounds of Castleton, and in the graveyard next to the park. off on
who hope it will become an ‘indul-
gent, ultra-luxurious retreat for
After leaving Castleton, we
made the short journey to Glamis
What insurance?
all-important getaways’. Castle, which is unmissable, and about NO, definitely
Almost immediately, our kids –
Harry, 11, and nine-year-old Tilly
the guided tour is a must.
Every room of the castle – home
any flight not. The general
– were exploring the furthest of the Lyon family since the 14th bookings? consensus on
travel insurance is
reaches of the house and even century – is fascinating, and SOME airlines are to book it at the
delving into the cupboards. there’s a ghost story to go with offering ­ incentives same time as you

Y
Luckily there was no squabbling almost all of them. to travel, with book your trip.
over bedrooms – there are six of ­f lexibility on new If you don’t have
them, all beautifully furnished, bookings, includ- it in place and
Pictures: GETTY

en suite and kitted out with ing BA, which has your destination
Bluetooth speakers. OU can see the surpris- waived its altera- is later added to
There’s a modern kitchen big ingly modest room where tion fee on book- the FCO risk list,
enough to get lost in, and an the Queen Mother would ings made between then you will not
adjoining dining room that can spend most of her time,
seat up to 18 guests. We took Luxury: One of six bedrooms
now and Monday, b e ­ e l i g i b l e
with a bureau from which she March 16, and on for  compensation.
over its large table for dinner touch on a freezing winter’s supposedly had a direct line to

q AM
­pre-booked trips to Hong Kong and
then used it to play Roulette, evening. All of which made it Buckingham Palace.
borrowed from a games room tempting to stay indoors – but There are countless anecdotes,
northern Italy. i insurED FOR
Virgin Atlantic is waiving any
that boasts a billiard table. we ventured out to nearby but I liked the story of Scotland’s ­penalties on changes to bookings cancellations?
Next door, there’s a ‘champagne Kirriemuir, where almost every last jester, whose costume is issued throughout March.
room’ – a comfortable nook for street appears to contain an stored in the Great Hall. Speak directly to your airline,

q scared
those in need of a moment of homage to its most famous son, It’s referenced by Sir Walter hotel or tour operator to see what
quiet contemplation. Peter Pan creator JM Barrie. Scott, in Waverley – where he What if I’m too they can offer.
My favourite spot was in front of His birthplace, a traditional mentions that the jester’s motley to travel? If they can’t help, you will most
likely need to have travel ­disruption
a roaring log fire in the huge weaver’s house, is a museum – dress was ‘very handsome, and
drawing room, looking out on to though closed when we were ornamented with many bells’. Airlines, tour operators and cover included in your policy.
the front lawn. there (it’s open again in April). Castleton is a hidden gem and insurers are under no obligation to AA, Co-op, LV and Virgin Money
The canopied hot tub also You can also see the wash-house ideal for exploring a beautiful offer refunds based on panic. all have policies that will cover for
proved irresistible, even on a where the young author per- part of rural Scotland – but if you So if you decide not to travel to cancellations based on FCO advice,
chilly day, but it’s only a short formed his first play at the age can’t summon the energy to get anywhere outside the FCO travel and hotel costs should your flight
stroll, or sprint, from the back of seven – it’s said it provided out of the hot tub, it’s the perfect risk list, you are unlikely to get be cancelled. You also have
door. All the same, it was a inspiration for the Wendy house sanctuary for a family gathering ­anything back, although it’s worth ­protection using a credit card if your
challenge best tackled with a in Peter Pan. or weekend away. checking because some ­ providers booking was more than £100.

q ISonitarisky
fortifying gin and tonic in hand. We paid a visit to the Neverland may allow you to move the booking
In fact, there are two hot tubs in Play Park on Kirriemuir Hill, Travel Facts as a gesture of goodwill. to go
The Association of British
the back garden, one of which is complete with a wooden pirate
for the use of guests in a three- ship and zip-wire. It’s next to the
Castleton House is available from
­I nsurers (ABI) says: ‘Travel cruise?
£2,450 (mid-week), £3,350 ­insurance is not designed to cover CRUISE ship quarantines and
bedroom self-catering cottage town’s cricket pavilion, which
next door to the main house. houses a camera obscura. (weekend) and £5,000 (week). “disinclination to travel” where the ­outbreaks onboard have caused a
There’s also a ‘Hobbit hut’ – a Both the pavilion and the cam- Call 07483 866 079 or FCO advice has not changed to ripple effect across the industry,
fantastic bolthole where you can era were donated by Barrie to his email enquiries@ advise against travel.’ The only forcing liners to implement
toast marshmallows: a magical home town in 1930, seven years castletonhouseglamis.com chance of claiming ­ without your ­immediate precautions, including